Lipa Later, see ya later?

Aderayo Adesokan shapes how Moniepoint is seen and understood, leading its brand and communications across markets. She manages external messaging, campaign production, global experiential activations, and corporate brand perception, ensuring consistency in how the company presents itself. With experience spanning banking, finance, FMCG, BNPL, insure-tech and entertainment, she focuses on narratives that reflect business priorities and connect with key audiences. She works closely with senior leadership to align communication with strategy, ensuring Moniepoint’s presence remains clear and trusted as it serves over 10 million businesses and individuals in its ecosystem.

I’d say I’m like Blossom from the Powerpuff Girls - the one who keeps things organised and makes sure everyone’s doing what needs to be done. It’s a bit like being a headgirl for a school, making sure everything’s in order, representing the school in the best way, and ensuring the students are updated with the latest news. And being organised, making sure everyone is on the same page, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. And of course, I try to keep it relatable and impactful. 

I spent a lot of time in creative advertising, working with transformative technologies like augmented and virtual reality, helping big brands communicate in innovative ways. But I found myself wanting to focus more deeply, rather than hopping between industries. I realised my strength was in strategic thinking, ideation, and project management. After researching the tech space, I saw a great fit for my skills in roles like digital communications. When a role at Moniepoint opened up, I knew it was the right opportunity. Fast forward, here I am, leading brand and communications for one of Africa’s rapidly growing financial brands, and I don’t regret the decision for a second.

It takes grit, intentionality and clarity. When I joined Moniepoint, we had almost no digital presence, so I had to build it from the ground up. The key was creating storytelling that resonated locally while also being globally recognised. Had to hack showing trust, impact, and connecting with real people. From the start, we knew we were shaping something bigger than just a payment system or financial solutions. It was purposefully creating value that felt genuine and belonged in people’s lives. It’s not always easy, and it takes persistence, but with the right direction and consistency, people will notice.

It’s two words for me, impact and relatability. Investors want to see the value in what you're doing, but also want to feel a connection to the brand and its journey. Crafting a message that shows how your product or service can make a difference and speak to real needs is super crucial. Of course numbers are important, but at the heart of it, investors want to know that the brand aligns with their values and has a clear, positive impact. There is a lot of critical thinking that goes into weaving even a sentence or a report to align with specific messages to a certain audience. 

Everything we do has to be measurable (Let’s not do things for vibes or because it’s cool). I’m fortunate to work with amazing colleagues like Tosin and Didi at Moniepoint, who have helped me refine the art of data-driven decision-making. We don’t create content just for the sake of it - I may sound like a broken record to people cause this is my mantra. Each story has a purpose. Each piece of communication, be it digital, a campaign, hard paper, or whatever, has to have a purpose or something you want people to take out that falls within the context of the business direction at the time cause we yield the perception. I always ask, and it’s embedded in my subconscious: Why are we telling this story? How does it connect with the brand and the audience? Does the data support it? In the end, it’s not just great storytelling; it’s important to align that storytelling with the company’s broader goals and making sure we can measure its impact.

“Thank you very much for that question” *breaths in* … my biggest lesson- is it takes time to knock a narrative into people’s heads - I know that sounds a bit rough. So many theories tell you the what and the hows, but not how important it is to be a brand that people see themselves in. Experiences are great but ensuring your audience can relate to the brand’s journey. This has shaped my approach to communications, teaching me to be patient and deliberate. The longer you nurture a narrative, the more people will connect with it. It’s not always instant, but with consistency, people begin to see themselves in your brand story.

Find what you’re truly good at and build on it. Communications is vast, and there are many paths to take. Start by focusing on what sets you apart, then think globally while staying locally relevant. Don’t be afraid to try new things, and remember that there are no bad ideas- only bad execution. Make sure you’re always learning, and don’t limit yourself to the boundaries of your current environment. The world is wide open.

What excites me most is seeing products built for local markets in Nigeria and other parts of Africa grow into global products while still owning their narrative. There’s a lot of potential for African tech to create real solutions for real problems. The challenge will be maintaining that authenticity as the products scale, but the opportunity to show the world what we can do is what keeps me excited about the future. And I’m grateful to be a part of the people shaping that.

There’s more from Kenya, Lipa Later, a key Kenyan buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) fintech firm, has been placed under administration, effective March 24, 2025. This follows a period of significant financial strain and unsuccessful efforts to secure additional funding. 

Joy Vipinchandra Bhatt of Moore JVB Consulting LLP has been appointed as the administrator, per official gazette notifications.

The company's financial difficulties have been evident for several months, with reports claiming that employees had not received their salaries for nearly a year. This situation underscores the severity of the fintech's liquidity challenges. 

Lipa Later’s obligations to its suppliers, including a legal dispute with Africa Foresight Group (AFG) over unpaid consultancy fees ($13,000), have further compounded its financial woes.

The decision to enter administration signifies a critical juncture for Lipa Later. It entails the transfer of control from the company’s directors to the appointed administrator, who will now oversee the management of its assets and operations. 

Creditors have been formally notified and must submit their claims by April 23, 2025.

Bhatt said that the current focus is on engaging with all relevant stakeholders to pursue the optimal outcome for the company. This process will likely involve thoroughly assessing Lipa Later’s financial position and exploring potential restructuring or acquisition opportunities.

Lipa Later’s predicament highlights the broader challenges facing the BNPL sector in Kenya, particularly in the context of a tightening funding environment. The company’s trajectory, from a highly regarded startup that secured substantial seed funding to its current state, is a cautionary tale. 

It joins many Kenyan startups, including Sendy, Copia, and iProcure, that have experienced financial distress after failing to secure subsequent funding rounds. The future of Lipa Later now hinges on the administrator’s ability to navigate these complex circumstances and determine a viable path forward. 

Another day, another startup caught in a wrongful termination case in Kenya. 

Marketforce has been ordered to pay $16,000 to a former employee for wrongful termination. It’s not the first Kenyan startup to face this—Wasoko had a similar case recently, where an ex-employee successfully sued for unfair dismissal and won compensation. And it likely won’t be the last. In 2024, ex-employees filed a now-dismissed case against Wasoko, a B2B e-commerce company, which merged with Egypt's MaxAB in August 2024, while former business process outsourcing (BPO) company Sama faces an ongoing lawsuit from its former employees.

Startups love speed. They raise millions, hire aggressively, and expand fast. But when the money tightens, layoffs come just as quickly—often without following labour laws. Employees, once the backbone of these companies, are suddenly left without pay, notice, or legal severance—are they collateral damage when things go wrong?

This ruling is a rare win for workers in a space where startups usually hold all the power. It sends a message: employees can push back, and courts are willing to hold companies accountable. For startups, it’s a warning—cutting costs the wrong way can end up costing more.

One thing is clear: Kenyan tech workers aren’t just walking away quietly anymore.

This week, Egyptian payment solutions startup enza raised $6.75m in seed funding. The round was co-led by Algebra Ventures and Quona Capital. (March 26)

Here are the other deals for the week:

• Nigerian fintech Payhippo rebranded as Rivy and secured $4 million in pre-Series A funding. The funding comprises $2m in equity, co-led by EchoVC and Shell’s All On, and $2m in debt from local lenders. (March 26)
• South African HR startup Jem HR closed a $3.3 million pre-Series A funding round. The round included equity funding led by Old Mutual subsidiary Next176, and a $1.65 million private debt facility. (March 24)
• South African fintech, Trade Shield, secured $820,000 in funding from FNB’s Vumela Enterprise Development Fund, in partnership with Edge Growth. (March 27)
• South African AI startup NOSIBLE raised $1 million in pre-seed funding in a round led by Atlantica Ventures, alongside additional strategic investments from existing customers. (March 27)
• Tunisian legal-tech startup Juridoc secured undisclosed funding from 216 Capital and Go Big Partners. (March 24)

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more funding announcements. Before you go, read our State of Tech in Africa review for 2024. Click this link to read it.